Black Muscat

Wine DetailsPrice: $10.00 per bottleDescription: A semi-sweet wine with the true Muscat flavors coming through. These grapes come from vines that are more than 50 years old, from the Upland Vineyards in Sunnyside. With the residual sugars (RS) of 3.8% and great acidity this wine is very approachable and perfect for those do anything, anywhere occasions. Enjoy it on a picnic or in the hot tub!

Varietal Definition

Black Muscat:
Derived from a Schiava Grossa x Muscat of Alexandria cross, this variety has more than 30 synonym names, including Muscat Hamburg, Black Hamburg and Golden Hamburg. In most of the world, Black Muscat is destined for table grape production. However, in certain markets it is also used to produce wine. In California, in the hot southern reaches of the Central Valley, the vine's black-berried grapes are used in the production of dessert wine. The most notable is a richly colored and aromatic wine known as 'Elysium' made by Quady Winery in Madera. In Eastern Europe, it delivers a fair amount of light, grapey red wine with some Muscat aroma.

Muscat:
Muscat, thought to be one of the oldest grape varieties, is grown worldwide. It is vinified in a multitude of styles, from still to sparkling, and dry to sweet to fortified. Also called Moscato, Moscatel and Muskateller, it is a sweetly aromatic, fruity grape that has many genetic variations and colors. It probably originated in Greece but maybe the independent sultanate of Muscat in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula had something to do with it. Over 200 different varieties and derivatives to the Muscat family exist today. Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat and Black Muscat are varieties most planted in California, which makes primarily still wine. More unusual is Muscat fermented to total dryness, which leaves greater alcohol levels and no residual sugar. Some Muscats are aged in oak to provide additional complexity.Today’s recommended Muscats represent many of these styles, so use the tasting notes and percent of residual sugar - listed if provided by the winery - to find a wine you’ll enjoy. The more sugar and the lower the alcohol, the sweeter the wine, though wines above 10 percent alcohol can also be somewhat sweet.